THRISSUR,
MAY 5
. The CPI general secretary, A.B. Bardhan, said today that India should condemn the oppression being unleashed by the forces of the U.S. and its allies against the Iraqi Prisoners of War (PoW) in their camps in Iraq.

Addressing a Meet-the-Press programme, organised by the Thrissur Press Club, Mr. Bardhan said even some of the close allies of the U.S. had condemned the actions of the U.S. forces in the PoW camps in Iraq, which have exposed the invalidity of their (U.S.) claims of being the guardians of human rights and democracy. But India has not condemned the atrocities of the U.S. forces so far.

Similarly, there was only a feeble response from India's Foreign Minister on the reports of mercenaries being sent to Iraq.

How can the Government say that it is not aware of the fact that recruiting agencies were sending mercenaries to Iraq? he asked.